If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt youBut make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired of waitingOr being lied about, don't deal in lies;Or being hated don't give way to hatingAnd yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise!

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;If you can meet with Triumph and DisasterAnd treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spokenTwisted by knaves to make a trap for foolsOr watch the things you gave your life to, brokenAnd stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools!

If you can make one heap of all your winningsAnd risk it on one turn of pitch-and-tossAnd lose, and start again at your beginningsAnd never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinewTo serve your turn long after they are gone.And so hold on when there is nothing in youExcept the Will which says to them : 'Hold On'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtueOr Walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minuteWith sixty seconds' worth of distance run,Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my Son. --- Rudyard Kipling

Written in 1896 by the then 31 year old Rudyard Kipling. First published in the "Brother Square Toes" chapter of Rewards and Fairies, Kipling's 1910 collection of short stories and poems.

Like William Ernest Henley's "Invictus" it is a memorable evocation of Victorian stoicism and the "stiff upper lip" that popular culture has made into a traditional British virtue.

The poem's line "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same" is written on the wall of the centre court players' entrance at the British Tennis Tournament, Wimbledon. The entire poem was read in a promotional video for the Wimbledon 2008 gentleman's final by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. (via Wikipedia)

If you wish to see this video go to www.youtube.com and search Rudyard Kipling's Poem "If" read by Federer and Nadal.

About Me

Janet Gallagher

South Africa

I am an author who loves to travel.
My debut book "A Question of Love" (genre Romance/ChicLit/Law) is available on Amazon Kindle) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009DKTWRU. I am presently writing my next book (genre Romance/Mystery).
I fall under the sign of Aquarius and therefore I would not slot myself under any one genre.
I have many interests - gym, family, geeeek! Formerly childrens nurse/air stewardess/personal assistant/ secretary/ dabbled in a couple of university law subjects then worked for many years in a prestigous law firm as Secretary/PA.
I am very family and home oriented but also love travel and pursuing interests and learning from people who are achievers and focused.
My favourite movie stars : male: Ryan Reynolds, Jack Davenport and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers;
female: Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Charlize Theron
Favourite movies: The Proposal, The Devil Wears Prada, August Rush
You can follow me on Twitter @janetfgallagher
I look forward to meeting you there!